Over 10 lakh new cancer cases diagnosed every year: Dr Nadeem

STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In India, over 10-lakh new cases of cancer are being diagnosed every year. However, due to late diagnosis, over seven lakh people die from the disease each year. Projections by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) show that India is likely to have over 17.3 lakh new cases of cancer and over 8.8 lakh deaths due to the disease by 2020.
This was stated by Dr Nadeem Shoket, Medical Oncologist GMC, Jammu, while interacting with media persons here on Saturday.
Dr Nadeem who recently joined the Department of Medical Oncology and is the first Medical Oncologist for GMC said that J&K State has an estimated number of cancer patients (prevalence) of 29,841, 30,855,31,899 for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively. Similarly, the estimated number of cancer patient’s deaths (mortality) for the year 2012, 2013 and 2014 are 4,863, 5,028, 5,198 respectively, he added.
“Cancer is on the rise in Kashmir, data released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) shows that till August this year, 16,480 patients with malignancies have been registered compared to 11,815 cases in 2014. The data for 2015 and 2016 was not available, he informed,” he added.
“In J & K, the top three cancers are lung, head and neck and cancer of mouth. The factors behind it are tobacco consumption, sedentary lifestyle, fatty diet, TB, Hepatitis B, HIV, said Dr Nadeem adding most of human beings are susceptible to 200 variety of cancers. 15 per cent of cancers are hereditary. Most of cancers are man-made and that there is no miracle cure for any cancer,” he said.
Unless urgent action is taken to raise awareness about the disease and to develop practical strategies to address cancer, this is projected to increase to alarming premature cancer deaths every year, cautioned Dr Nadeem.
“Ironically, people don’t want to talk openly about the disease. If they have cancer, they get silent. Persistent cough for two-week and more without any additional symptom such as fever is a potential sign of cancer and patients should be tested for cancer markers,” remarked Dr Nadeem.
“Persistent cough is in majority of cases taken as a potential sign for TB, lung disease and are treated accordingly. It has been found that two out of 10 patients suffer persistent cough because of cancer,” he said.
Dr Nadeem further said , cancer is curable if detected in early stages. Now even at later stages patient can hope for survival for long. Advancement in medical sciences has now made it possible to manage cancer through chronic treatment and can provide longer life of upto 2-three years for terminal patients also.